(Stockholm's beauty is well represented by its City Hall and the areas surrounding it. A panoramic view of it at one of the city's high points really shows why Stockholm is called the city of bridges and islands..and the blue waters really bring out its shine)
(The drive to this resort brought out the best of Norway again. But the perfect reflection of the mountain over a lake on this summers day takes the prize. And then, after checking into the resort hotel, imagine being greeted, as the curtains open, to a group of horses right outside munching out their dinner)
(This lovely coastal Norwegian town has an excellent fish market area, with platters of fresh seafood for sale, from salmon to lobster. But at around 90euro a pop, we decided to skip it - turns out, Norway is regarded as the most expensive country in Europe. Instead, the money was directed towards a nice momento - a stylish white windbreaker, bought from their iconic Bergen waterfront)
(This Flam railway ride is probably one of the most beautiful in the world. Deep lush valleys come into view, with waterfalls around every corner. The biggest is quite an attraction, with the train stopping for all passengers to step out to view the cool surroundings..watch out for the red fairy at the very top, dancing away in 9C temperature like it was a hot summer day. A change of train is required midway in the ride before we arrive at Bergen. Lovely cool summer's day..I wonder what a winter version would be like)
(Norway's largest and deepest fjord did not disappoint..just look at that mind-bending picture where the train ends right where the cruise-liner is docked, as if the train passengers can walk straight onto the ship? It takes a couple of seconds for the brain to compute! But the beauty of this massive lake-like fjord is almost palpable..you can almost touch it..the mountainside appears within reach and the waterfalls are aplenty, making it feel like heaven on earth)
(The natural beauty of Norway envelops our bus, as we drove past this magnificent Aurland Valley, which is flanked by steep mountains and natural waterfalls. The title of the most beautiful country in the world was conferred on Norway by National Geographic, and now, we know why, especially during these summer months)
(This massive Frogner Park showcases the stone and bronze sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, with the Angry Boy being the most famous of all. The centerpiece featuring a totem pole of bare-bodied humans wrapped around each other is quite a spectacle too. Being summer, this place has lots of visitors, attracted by the flowering plants, I am sure)
(The allure of the open sea, from Copenhagen to Oslo, came in the form of a 1000-person cruise ferry which is big enough to not feel any twinge of the waves ..slept like a baby overnight, despite a viewless small cabin. But the tax-free shopping and the seafood onboard made up for the shortfall. Can't help but get my "Titanic" moment, feeling free as a seagull!)
(The Danish Royal family's residences can easily outdo those of the British, in both style and grandeur. Both the Fredensborg and Christiansborg Castles bring such splendor immediately. But finishing the walkabout with an original Danish hotdog is probably the most satisfying, but where's that Haagen Dazs icecream that originated from here? Or was that from the US? )
(The 100-year old icon of Copenhagen, the Little Mermaid, is but a small bronze statue right by the waters edge of this capital of Denmark. Like the little pissing boy in Brussels, these much-talked about must-see's usually end up being a bit of a disappointment, don't they? But then again, you can say that about the Merlion too, right? Its author, Hans Christian Andersen's statue by the cityhall area of Copenhagen had more to see, though )
(Okay, so he's not everyone's version of a great comedian but this guy has quite a bit of talent in that tiny frame of his. He's pretty good on the piano, sings well and when he wants to, he can hit the funny bone. At 44, he doesn't look a year older than 18. With this PG-rated show, he seemed subdued and does not have the captive power of the other Singapore sons like Kumar or Broadway Beng, but given that this is his 20th year anniversary gig, this was a passable evening to show off his talents)
